Why is it strictly forbidden to turn traction control off?

What is Stability Control System?

Most cars are equipped with a "Stability Control System" as a standard function from the factory. This system may have different names depending on the manufacturer, such as Toyota using VSC, Honda using VSA, or European manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz calling it ESP.

Regardless of the name, all systems operate on the same basic principle, which is to prevent the car from sliding or skidding off the road, especially on wet roads where the risk of skidding is higher than on dry roads.

How does the Stability Control System work?

The Stability Control System relies on the operation of numerous sensors installed in various positions of the vehicle, such as the Yaw Rate Sensor to detect the vehicle's tilt, Wheel Speed Sensors to detect the rotation of each wheel, Steering Angle Sensor to detect the angle of the steering wheel, and others.

If the system detects that the vehicle is starting to lose stability, it will reduce the speed of one or more wheels to correct the vehicle's behavior. For example, if the vehicle begins to understeer while turning left, the system will reduce the speed of the left rear wheel for a fraction of a second to bring the vehicle back on track. The driver may not even be aware that the system has intervened unless they notice the yellow skidding car symbol flashing on the dashboard during system operation.

Should you press the OFF button?

Normally, every time the engine is started, the Stability Control System operates in Standby mode to provide immediate assistance in emergencies. However, if the driver wants to deactivate this function, they simply need to press the OFF button (some models may require holding it for 3-5 seconds) until the same symbol appears on the dashboard, indicating that the system has been temporarily deactivated until the engine is restarted or the button is pressed again to reactivate it.

However, car manufacturers recommend turning off the Stability Control System only in certain situations, such as when driving on deep mud or snow, where turning off the function can help the wheels rotate freely to increase the chances of escaping from a rut. But in general, it should not be turned off abruptly! This is because it can be dangerous on slippery roads, especially during rainy seasons when accidents are more likely to occur.